The Prophet said, "(On the Day of Resurrection) camels will come to
their owner in the best state of health they have ever had (in the
world), and if he had not paid their Zakat (in the world) then they
would tread him with their feet; and similarly, sheep will come to
their owner in the best state of health they have ever had in the
world, and if he had not paid their Zakat, then they would tread him
with their hooves and would butt him with their horns." The Prophet
added, "One of their rights is that they should be milked while water
is kept in front of them." The Prophet added, "I do not want anyone of
you to come to me on the Day of Resurrection, carrying over his neck a
sheep that will be bleating. Such a person will (then) say, 'O
Muhammad! (please intercede for me,) I will say to him. 'I can't help
you, for I conveyed Allah's Message to you.' Similarly, I do not want
anyone of you to come to me carrying over his neck a camel that will
be grunting. Such a person (then) will say "O Muhammad! (please
intercede for me)." I will say to him, "I can't help you for I
conveyed Allah's message to you."

Allah's Apostle said, "Whoever is made wealthy by Allah and does not
pay the Zakat of his wealth, then on the Day of Resurrection his
wealth will be made like a bald-headed poisonous male snake with two
black spots over the eyes. The snake will encircle his neck and bite
his cheeks and say, 'I am your wealth, I am your treasure.' " Then the
Prophet recited the holy verses:-- 'Let not those who withhold . . .'
(to the end of the verse). (3.180).

Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) said, "No Zakat is due on property mounting
to less than five Uqiyas (of silver), and no Zakat is due on less than
five camels, and there is no Zakat on less than five Wasqs." (A Wasqs
equals 60 Sa's) & (1 Sa=3 K gms App.)

I passed by a place called Ar-Rabadha and by chance I met Abu Dhar and
asked him, "What has brought you to this place?" He said, "I was in
Sham and differed with Muawiya on the meaning of (the following verses
of the Quran): 'They who hoard up gold and silver and spend them not
in the way of Allah.' (9.34). Muawiya said, 'This verse is revealed
regarding the people of the scriptures." I said, It was revealed
regarding us and also the people of the scriptures." So we had a
quarrel and Mu'awiya sent a complaint against me to 'Uthman. 'Uthman
wrote to me to come to Medina, and I came to Medina. Many people came
to me as if they had not seen me before. So I told this to 'Uthman who
said to me, "You may depart and live nearby if you wish." That was the
reason for my being here for even if an Ethiopian had been nominated
as my ruler, I would have obeyed him .

While I was sitting with some people from Quraish, a man with very
rough hair, clothes, and appearance came and stood in front of us,
greeted us and said, "Inform those who hoard wealth, that a stone will
be heated in the Hell-fire and will be put on the nipples of their
breasts till it comes out from the bones of their shoulders and then
put on the bones of their shoulders till it comes through the nipples
of their breasts the stone will be moving and hitting." After saying
that, the person retreated and sat by the side of the pillar, I
followed him and sat beside him, and I did not know who he was. I said
to him, "I think the people disliked what you had said." He said,
"These people do not understand anything, although my friend told me."
I asked, "Who is your friend?" He said, "The Prophet said (to me), 'O
Abu Dhar! Do you see the mountain of Uhud?' And on that I (Abu Dhar)
started looking towards the sun to judge how much remained of the day
as I thought that Allah's Apostle wanted to send me to do something
for him and I said, 'Yes!' He said, 'I do not love to have gold equal
to the mountain of Uhud unless I spend it all (in Allah's cause)
except three Dinars (pounds). These people do not understand and
collect worldly wealth. No, by Allah, Neither I ask them for worldly
benefits nor am I in need of their religious advice till I meet Allah,
The Honorable, The Majestic." '

I heard the Prophet saying, "There is no envy except in two: a person
whom Allah has given wealth and he spends it in the right way, and a
person whom Allah has given wisdom (i.e. religious knowledge) and he
gives his decisions accordingly and teaches it to the others."

Allah's Apostle said, "If one give in charity what equals one
date-fruit fro the honestly-earned money and Allah accepts only the
honestly earned money --Allah takes it in His right (hand) ar then
enlarges its reward for that person (who has given it), as anyone of
you brings up his baby horse, so much s that it becomes as big as a
mountain

I heard the Prophet saying, "O people! Give in charity as a time will
come upon you when a person will wander about with his object of
charity and will not find anybody to accept it, and one (who will be
requested to take it) will say, "If you had brought it yesterday,
would have taken it, but to-day I am not in need of it."

The Prophet said, "The Hour (Day of Judgment) will not be established
till your wealth increases so much so that one will be worried, for no
one will accept his Zakat and the person to whom he will give it will
reply, 'I am not in need of it.' "

While I was sitting with Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) two person came to
him; one of them complained about his poverty and the other complained
about the prevalence of robberies. Allah's Apostle said, "As regards
stealing and robberies, there will shortly come a time when a caravan
will go to Mecca (from Medina) without any guard. And regarding
poverty, The Hour (Day of Judgment) will not be established till one
of you wanders about with his object of charity and will not find
anybody to accept it And (no doubt) each one of you will stand in
front of Allah and there will be neither a curtain nor an interpreter
between him and Allah, and Allah will ask him, 'Did not I give you
wealth?' He will reply in the affirmative. Allah will further ask,
'Didn't I send a messenger to you?' And again that person will reply in
the affirmative Then he will look to his right and he will see nothing
but Hell-fire, and then he will look to his left and will see nothing
but Hell-fire. And so, any (each one) of you should save himself from
the fire even by giving half of a date-fruit (in charity). And if you
do not find a half date-fruit, then (you can do it through saying) a
good pleasant word (to your brethren). (See Hadith No. 793 Vol. 4).

Thy Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, "A time will come upon the people when a
person will wander about with gold as Zakat and will not find anybody
to accept it, and one man will be seen followed by forty women to be
their guardian because of scarcity of men and great number of women. "

When the verses of charity were revealed, we used to work as porters.
A man came and distributed objects of charity in abundance. And they
(the people) said, "He is showing off." And another man came and gave
a sa (a small measure of food grains); they said, "Allah is not in
need of this small amount of charity." And then the Divine Inspiration
came: "Those who criticize such of the believers who give in charity
voluntarily and those who could not find to give in charity except
what is available to them." (9.79).

Whenever Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) ordered us to give in charity, we
used to go to the market and work as porters and get a Mudd (a special
measure of grain) and then give it in charity. (Those were the days of
poverty) and to-day some of us have one hundred thousand.

A lady along with her two daughters came to me asking (for some alms),
but she found nothing with me except one date which I gave to her and
she divided it between her two daughters, and did not eat anything
herself, and then she got up and went away. Then the Prophet came in
and I informed him about this story. He said, "Whoever is put to trial
by these daughters and he treats them generously (with benevolence)
then these daughters will act as a shield for him from Hell-Fire."
(See Hadith No. 24, Vol. 8).

A man came to the Prophet and asked, "O Allah's Apostle! Which charity
is the most superior in reward?" He replied, "The charity which you
practice while you are healthy, niggardly and afraid of poverty and
wish to become wealthy. Do not delay it to the time of approaching
death and then say, 'Give so much to such and such, and so much to
such and such.' And it has already belonged to such and such (as it is
too late)."

Some of the wives of the Prophet asked him, "Who amongst us will be
the first to follow you (i.e. die after you)?" He said, "Whoever has
the longest hand." So they started measuring their hands with a stick
and Sauda's hand turned out to be the longest. (When Zainab bint Jahsh
died first of all in the caliphate of 'Umar), we came to know that the
long hand was a symbol of practicing charity, so she was the first to
follow the Prophet and she used to love to practice charity. (Sauda
died later in the caliphate of Muawiya).

Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) said, "A man said that he would give
something in charity. He went out with his object of charity and
unknowingly gave it to a thief. Next morning the people said that he
had given his object of charity to a thief. (On hearing that) he said,
"O Allah! All the praises are for you. I will give alms again." And so
he again went out with his alms and (unknowingly) gave it to an
adulteress. Next morning the people said that he had given his alms to
an adulteress last night. The man said, "O Allah! All the praises are
for you. (I gave my alms) to an adulteress. I will give alms again."
So he went out with his alms again and (unknowingly) gave it to a rich
person. (The people) next morning said that he had given his alms to a
wealthy person. He said, "O Allah! All the praises are for you. (I had
given alms) to a thief, to an adulteress and to a wealthy man." Then
someone came and said to him, "The alms which you gave to the thief,
might make him abstain from stealing, and that given to the adulteress
might make her abstain from illegal sexual intercourse (adultery), and
that given to the wealthy man might make him take a lesson from it and
spend his wealth which Allah has given him, in Allah's cause."

My grandfather, my father and I gave the pledge of allegiance to
Allah's Apostle. The Prophet got me engaged and then got me married.
One day I went to the Prophet with a complaint. My father Yazid had
taken some gold coins for charity and kept them with a man in the
mosque (to give them to the poor) But I went and took them and brought
them to him (my father). My father said, "By Allah! I did not intend
to give them to you. " I took (the case) to Allah's Apostle . On that
Allah's Apostle said, "O Yazid! You will be rewarded for what you
intended. O Man! Whatever you have taken is yours."

I heard the Prophet (p.b.u.h) saying, "(O people!) Give in charity
(for Allah's cause) because a time will come when a person will carry
his object of charity from place to place (and he will not find any
person to take it) and any person whom he shall request to take it, I
will reply, 'If you had brought it yesterday I would have taken it,
but today I am not

Allah's Apostle said, "When a woman gives in charity some of the
foodstuff (which she has in her house) without spoiling it, she will
receive the reward for what she has spent, and her husband will
receive the reward because of his earning, and the storekeeper will
also have a reward similar to it. The reward of one will not decrease
the reward of the others . "

The Prophet said, "The upper hand is better than the lower hand (i.e.
he who gives in charity is better than him who takes it). One should
start giving first to his dependents. And the best object of charity
is that which is given by a wealthy person (from the money which is
left after his expenses). And whoever abstains from asking others for
some financial help, Allah will give him and save him from asking
others, Allah will make him self-sufficient."

I heard Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) while he was on the pulpit speaking
about charity, to abstain from asking others for some financial help
and about begging others, saying, "The upper hand is better than the
lower hand. The upper hand is that of the giver and the lower (hand)
is that of the beggar."

Once the Prophet offered the 'Asr prayer and then hurriedly went to
his house and returned immediately. I (or somebody else) asked him (as
to what was the matter) and he said, "I left at home a piece of gold
which was from the charity and I disliked to let it remain a night in
my house, so I got it distributed . "

The Prophet went out for the 'Id prayer on the 'Id day and offered a
two Rakat prayer; and he neither offered a prayer before it or after
it. Then he went towards the women along with Bilal. He preached them
and ordered them to give in charity. And some (amongst the women)
started giving their fore-arm bangles and ear-rings.

that his father said, "Whenever a beggar came to Allah's Apostle or he
was asked for something, he used to say (to his companions), "Help and
recommend him and you will receive the reward for it; and Allah will
bring about what He will through His Prophet's tongue."

Hudhaifa said, "'Umar said, 'Who amongst you remembers the statement
of Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) about afflictions'?' I said, 'I know it
as the Prophet had said it.' 'Umar said, 'No doubt, you are bold. How
did he say it?' I said, 'A man's afflictions (wrong deeds) concerning
his wife, children and neighbors are expiated by (his) prayers,
charity, and enjoining good.' (The sub-narrator Sulaiman added that he
said, 'The prayer, charity, enjoining good and forbidding evil.')
'Umar said, 'I did not mean that, but I ask about that affliction
which will spread like the waves of the sea.' I said, 'O chief of the
believers! You need not be afraid of it as there is a closed door
between you and it.' He asked, 'Will the door be broken or opened?' I
replied, 'No, it will be broken.' He said, 'Then, if it is broken, it
will never be closed again?' I replied, 'Yes.' " Then we were afraid
to ask what that door was, so we asked Masruq to inquire, and he asked
Hudhaifa regarding it. Hudhaifa said, "The door was 'Umar. "We further
asked Hudhaifa whether 'Umar knew what that door meant. Hudhaifa
replied in the affirmative and added, "He knew it as one knows that
there will be a night before the tomorrow morning."

I said to Allah's Apostle, "Before embracing Islam I used to do good
deeds like giving in charity, slave-manumitting, and the keeping of
good relations with Kith and kin. Shall I be rewarded for those
deeds?" The Prophet replied, "You became Muslim with all those good
deeds (Without losing their reward)."

Allah's Apostle said, "When a woman gives in charity from her
husband's meals without wasting the property of her husband, she will
get a reward for it, and her husband too will get a reward for what he
earned and the store-keeper will have the reward likewise."

The Prophet said, "An honest Muslim store-keeper who carries out the
orders of his master and pays fully what he has been ordered to give
with a good heart and pays to that person to whom he was ordered to
pay, is regarded as one of the two charitable persons."

The Prophet said, "If a woman gives in charity from her husband's
house .." The Prophet (p.b.u.h) also said, "If a lady gives meals (in
charity) from her husband's house without spoiling her husband's
property, she will get a reward and her husband will also get a reward
likewise. The husband will get a reward because of his earnings and
the woman because of her spending."

The Prophet said, "When a woman gives in charity from her house meals
in Allah's Cause without spoiling her husband's property, she will get
a reward for it, and her husband will also get the reward for his
earnings and the storekeeper will get a reward likewise."

The Prophet said, "Every day two angels come down from Heaven and one
of them says, 'O Allah! Compensate every person who spends in Your
Cause,' and the other (angel) says, 'O Allah! Destroy every miser.' "

The Prophet said, "The example of a miser and an alms-giver is like
the example of two persons wearing iron cloaks." Allah's Apostle also
said, "The example of an alms-giver and a miser is like the example of
two persons who have two iron cloaks on them from their breasts to
their collar bones, and when the alms-giver wants to give in charity,
the cloak becomes capacious till it covers his whole body to such an
extent that it hides his fingertips and covers his footprints
(obliterates his tracks). (1) And when the miser wants to spend, it
(the iron cloak) sticks and every ring gets stuck to its place and he
tries to widen it, but it did not become wide.

from his father from his grandfather that the Prophet said, "Every
Muslim has to give in charity." The people asked, "O Allah's Prophet!
If someone has nothing to give, what will he do?" He said, "He should
work with his hands and benefit himself and also give in charity (from
what he earns)." The people further asked, "If he cannot find even
that?" He replied, "He should help the needy who appeal for help."
Then the people asked, "If he cannot do that?" He replied, "Then he
should perform good deeds and keep away from evil deeds and this will
be regarded as charitable deeds."

A sheep was sent to me (Nusaiba Al-Ansariya) (in charity) and I sent
some of it to 'Aisha. The Prophet asked 'Aisha for something to eat.
'Aisha replied that there was nothing except what Nusaiba Al-Ansariya
had sent of that sheep. The Prophet said to her, "Bring it as it has
reached its place."

Allah's Apostle said, "There is no Zakat on less than five camels and
also there is no Zakat on less than five Awaq (of silver). (5 Awaq =
22 Fransa Riyals of Yamen or 200 Dirhams.) And there is no Zakat on
less than five Awsuq. (A special measure of food-grains, and one Wasq
equals 60 Sa's.) (For gold 20, Dinars i.e. equal to 12 Guinea English.
No Zakat for less than 12 Guinea (English) of gold or for silver less
than 22 Fransa Riyals of Yamen.)

Abu Bakr wrote to me what Allah had instructed His Apostle (p.b.u.h)
to do regarding the one who had to pay one Bint Makhad (i.e. one
year-old she-camel) as Zakat, and he did not have it but had got Bint
Labun (two year old she-camel). (He wrote that) it could be accepted
from him as Zakat, and the collector of Zakat would return him 20
Dirhams or two sheep; and if the Zakat payer had not a Bint Makhad,
but he had Ibn Labun (a two year old he-camel) then it could be
accepted as his Zakat, but he would not be paid anything .

I am a witness that Allah's Apostle offered the Id prayer before
delivering the sermon and then he thought that the women would not be
able to hear him (because of the distance), so he went to them along
with Bilal who was spreading his garment. The Prophet advised and
ordered them to give in charity. So the women started giving their
ornaments (in charity). (The sub-narrator Aiyub pointed towards his
ears and neck meaning that they gave ornaments from those places such
as ear-rings and necklaces.)

Abu Bakr wrote to me what was made compulsory by Allah's Apostle and
that was (regarding the payments of Zakat): Neither the property of
different people may be taken together nor the joint property may be
split for fear of (paying more, or receiving less) Zakat. (1)

Abu Bakr wrote to me what Allah's Apostle has made compulsory
(regarding Zakat) and this was mentioned in it: If a property is
equally owned by two partners, they should pay the combined Zakat and
it will be considered that both of them have paid their Zakat equally.

A Bedouin asked Allah's Apostle about the emigration. The Prophet
(p.b.u.h) said, "May Allah have mercy on you! The matter of emigration
is very hard. Have you got camels? Do you pay their Zakat?" The
Bedouin said, "Yes, I have camels and I pay their Zakat." The Prophet
said, Work beyond the seas and Allah will not decrease (waste) any of
your good deeds." (See Hadith No. 260 Vol. 5).

Abu Bakr , wrote to me about the Zakat which Allah had ordered His
Apostle to observe: Whoever had to pay Jahda (Jahda means a
four-year-old she-camel) as Zakat from his herd of camels and he had
not got one, and he had Hiqqa (three-year-old she-camel), that Hiqqa
should be accepted from him along with two sheep if they were
available or twenty Dirhams (one Durham equals about 1/4 Saudi Riyal)
and whoever had to pay Hiqqa as Zakat and he had no Hiqqa but had a
Jadha, the Jadha should be accepted from him, and the Zakat collector
should repay him twenty Dirhams or two sheep; and whoever had to pay
Hiqqa as Zakat and he had not got one, but had a Bint Labun
(two-year-old she-camel), it should be accepted from him along with
two sheep or twenty Dirhams; and whoever had to pay Bint Labun and had
a Hiqqa, that Hiqqa should be accepted from him and the Zakat
collector should repay him twenty Dirhams or two sheep; and whoever
had to pay Bint Labun and he had not got one but had a Bint Makhad
(one-year-old she camel), that Bint Makhad should be accepted from him
along with twenty Dirhams or two sheep.

When Abu Bakr; sent me to (collect the Zakat from) Bahrein, he wrote
to me the following:-- (In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the
Merciful). These are the orders for compulsory charity (Zakat) which
Allah's Apostle had made obligatory for every Muslim, and which Allah
had ordered His Apostle to observe: Whoever amongst the Muslims is
asked to pay Zakat accordingly, he should pay it (to the Zakat
collector) and whoever is asked more than that (what is specified in
this script) he should not pay it; for twenty-four camels or less,
sheep are to be paid as Zakat; for every five camels one sheep is to
be paid, and if there are between twenty-five to thirty-five camels,
one Bint Makhad is to be paid; and if they are between thirty-six to
forty-five (camels), one Bint Labun is to be paid; and if they are
between forty-six to sixty (camels), one Hiqqa is to be paid; and if
the number is between sixty-one to seventy-five (camels), one Jadh'a
is to be paid; and if the number is between seventy-six to ninety
(camels), two Bint Labuns are to be paid; and if they are from
ninety-one to one-hundred-and twenty (camels), two Hiqqas are to be
paid; and if they are over one-hundred and-twenty (camels), for every
forty (over one-hundred-and-twenty) one Bint Labun is to be paid, and
for every fifty camels (over one-hundred-and-twenty) one Hiqqa is to
be paid; and who ever has got only four camels, has to pay nothing as
Zakat, but if the owner of these four camels wants to give something,
he can. If the number of camels increases to five, the owner has to
pay one sheep as Zakat. As regards the Zakat for the (flock) of sheep;
if they are between forty and one-hundred-and-twenty sheep, one sheep
is to be paid; and if they are between one-hundred-and-twenty to two
hundred (sheep), two sheep are to be paid; and if they are between
two-hundred to three-hundred (sheep), three sheep are to be paid; and
for over three-hundred sheep, for every extra hundred sheep, one sheep
is to be paid as Zakat. And if somebody has got less than forty sheep,
no Zakat is required, but if he wants to give, he can. For silver the
Zakat is one-fortieth of the lot (i.e. 2.5%), and if its value is less
than two-hundred Dirhams, Zakat is not required, but if the owner
wants to pay he can.'

Abu Bakr wrote to me what Allah had ordered His Apostle (about Zakat)
which goes: Neither an old nor a defected animal, nor a male-goat may
be taken as Zakat except if the Zakat collector wishes (to take it).

Abu Bakr said, "By Allah! If they (pay me the Zakat and) with-hold
even a she-kid which they used to pay during the life-time of Allah's
Apostle, I will fight with them for it." 'Umar said, "It was nothing
but Allah Who opened Abu Bakr's chest towards the decision to fight,
and I came to know that his decision was right."

When Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) sent Muadh to Yemen, he said (to him),
"YOU are going to people of a (Divine) Book. First of all invite them
to worship Allah (alone) and when they come to know Allah, inform them
that Allah has enjoined on them, five prayers in every day and night;
and if they start offering these prayers, inform them that Allah has
enjoined on them, the Zakat. And it is to be taken from the rich
amongst them and given to the poor amongst them; and if they obey you
in that, take Zakat from them and avoid (don't take) the best property
of the people as Zakat."

Once I went to him (the Prophet ) and he said, "By Allah in Whose
Hands my life is (or probably said, 'By Allah, except Whom none has
the right to be worshipped) whoever had camels or cows or sheep and
did not pay their Zakat, those animals will be brought on the Day of
Resurrection far bigger and fatter than before and they will tread him
under their hooves, and will butt him with their horns, and (those
animals will come in circle): When the last does its turn, the first
will start again, and this punishment will go on till Allah has
finished the judgments amongst the people."

I heard Anas bin Malik saying, "Abu Talha had more property of
date-palm trees gardens than any other amongst the Ansar in Medina and
the most beloved of them to him was Bairuha garden, and it was in
front of the Mosque of the Prophet . Allah's Apostle used to go there
and used to drink its nice water." Anas added, "When these verses were
revealed:--'By no means shall you Attain righteousness unless You
spend (in charity) of that Which you love. ' (3.92) Abu Talha said
to Allah's Apostle 'O Allah's Apostle! Allah, the Blessed, the
Superior says: By no means shall you attain righteousness, unless you
spend (in charity) of that which you love. And no doubt, Bairuha'
garden is the most beloved of all my property to me. So I want to give
it in charity in Allah's Cause. I expect its reward from Allah. O
Allah's Apostle! Spend it where Allah makes you think it feasible.' On
that Allah's Apostle said, 'Bravo! It is useful property. I have heard
what you have said (O Abu Talha), and I think it would be proper if
you gave it to your Kith and kin.' Abu Talha said, I will do so, O
Allah's Apostle.' Then Abu Talha distributed that garden amongst his
relatives and his cousins."

On 'Id ul Fitr or 'Id ul Adha Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) went out to
the Musalla. After finishing the prayer, he delivered the sermon and
ordered the people to give alms. He said, "O people! Give alms." Then
he went towards the women and said. "O women! Give alms, for I have
seen that the majority of the dwellers of Hell-Fire were you (women)."
The women asked, "O Allah's Apostle! What is the reason for it?" He
replied, "O women! You curse frequently, and are ungrateful to your
husbands. I have not seen anyone more deficient in intelligence and
religion than you. O women, some of you can lead a cautious wise man
astray." Then he left. And when he reached his house, Zainab, the wife
of Ibn Masud, came and asked permission to enter It was said, "O
Allah's Apostle! It is Zainab." He asked, 'Which Zainab?" The reply
was that she was the wife of Ibn Mas'ub. He said, "Yes, allow her to
enter." And she was admitted. Then she said, "O Prophet of Allah!
Today you ordered people to give alms and I had an ornament and
intended to give it as alms, but Ibn Masud said that he and his
children deserved it more than anybody else." The Prophet replied,
"Ibn Masud had spoken the truth. Your husband and your children had
more right to it than anybody else."

Once the Prophet sat on a pulpit and we sat around him. Then he said,
"The things I am afraid of most for your sake (concerning what will
befall you after me) is the pleasures and splendors of the world and
its beauties which will be disclosed to you." Somebody said, "O
Allah's Apostle! Can the good bring forth evil?" The Prophet remained
silent for a while. It was said to that person, "What is wrong with
you? You are talking to the Prophet (p.b.u.h) while he is not talking
to you." Then we noticed that he was being inspired divinely. Then the
Prophet wiped off his sweat and said, "Where is the questioner?" It
seemed as if the Prophet liked his question. Then he said, "Good never
brings forth evil. Indeed it is like what grows on the banks of a
water-stream which either kill or make the animals sick, except if an
animal eats its fill the Khadira (a kind of vegetable) and then faces
the sun, and then defecates and urinates and grazes again. No doubt
this wealth is sweet and green. Blessed is the wealth of a Muslim from
which he gives to the poor, the orphans and to needy travelers. (Or
the Prophet said something similar to it) No doubt, whoever takes it
illegally will be like the one who eats but is never satisfied, and
his wealth will be a witness against him on the Day of Resurrection."

Zainab, the wife of 'Abdullah said, "I was in the Mosque and saw the
Prophet (p.b.u.h) saying, 'O women ! Give alms even from your
ornaments.' " Zainab used to provide for 'Abdullah and those orphans
who were under her protection. So she said to 'Abdullah, "Will you ask
Allah's Apostle whether it will be sufficient for me to spend part of
the Zakat on you and the orphans who are under my protection?" He
replied "Will you yourself ask Allah's Apostle ?" (Zainab added): So I
went to the Prophet and I saw there an Ansari woman who was standing
at the door (of the Prophet ) with a similar problem as mine. Bilal
passed by us and we asked him, 'Ask the Prophet whether it is
permissible for me to spend (the Zakat) on my husband and the orphans
under my protection.' And we requested Bilal not to inform the Prophet
about us. So Bilal went inside and asked the Prophet regarding our
problem. The Prophet (p.b.u.h) asked, "Who are those two?" Bilal
replied that she was Zainab. The Prophet said, "Which Zainab?" Bilal
said, "The wife of 'Adullah (bin Masud)." The Prophet said, "Yes, (it
is sufficient for her) and she will receive a double rewards (for
that): One for helping relatives, and the other for giving Zakat."

(the daughter of Um Salama) My mother said, "O Allah's Apostle! Shall
I receive a reward if I spend for the sustenance of Abu Salama's
offspring, and in fact they are also my sons?" The Prophet replied,
"Spend on them and you will get a reward for what you spend on them."

Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) ordered (a person) to collect Zakat, and
that person returned and told him that Ibn Jamil, Khalid bin Al-Walid,
and Abbas bin 'Abdul Muttalib had refused to give Zakat." The Prophet
said, "What made Ibn Jamll refuse to give Zakat though he was a poor
man, and was made wealthy by Allah and His Apostle ? But you are
unfair in asking Zakat from Khalid as he is keeping his armor for
Allah's Cause (for Jihad). As for Abbas bin 'Abdul Muttalib, he is the
uncle of Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) and Zakat is compulsory on him and
he should pay it double."

Some Ansari persons asked for (something) from Allah's Apostle
(p.b.u.h) and he gave them. They again asked him for (something) and
he again gave them. And then they asked him and he gave them again
till all that was with him finished. And then he said "If I had
anything. I would not keep it away from you. (Remember) Whoever
abstains from asking others, Allah will make him contented, and
whoever tries to make himself self-sufficient, Allah will make him
self-sufficient. And whoever remains patient, Allah will make him
patient. Nobody can be given a blessing better and greater than
patience."

Allah's Apostle said, "By Him in Whose Hand my life is, it is better
for anyone of you to take a rope and cut the wood (from the forest)
and carry it over his back and sell it (as a means of earning his
living) rather than to ask a person for something and that person may
give him or not."

The Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, "It is better for anyone of you to take a
rope (and cut) and bring a bundle of wood (from the forest) over his
back and sell it and Allah will save his face (from the Hell-Fire)
because of that, rather than to ask the people who may give him or
not."

Haklm bin Hizam said, "(Once) I asked Allah's Apostle (for something)
and he gave it to me. Again I asked and he gave (it to me). Again I
asked and he gave (it to me). And then he said, "O Hakim! This
property is like a sweet fresh fruit; whoever takes it without
greediness, he is blessed in it, and whoever takes it with greediness,
he is not blessed in it, and he is like a person who eats but is never
satisfied; and the upper (giving) hand is better than the lower
(receiving) hand." Hakim added, "I said to Allah's Apostle , 'By Him
(Allah) Who sent you with the Truth, I shall never accept anything
from anybody after you, till I leave this world.' " Then Abu Bakr
(during his caliphate) called Hakim to give him his share from the war
booty (like the other companions of the Prophet ), he refused to
accept anything. Then 'Umar (during his caliphate) called him to give
him his share but he refused. On that 'Umar said, "O Muslims! I would
like you to witness that I offered Hakim his share from this booty and
he refused to take it." So Hakim never took anything from anybody
after the Prophet till he died.

Allah's Apostle used to give me something but I would say to him,
"would you give it to a poorer and more needy one than l?" The Prophet
(p.b.u.h) said to me, "Take it. If you are given something from this
property, without asking for it or having greed for it take it; and if
not given, do not run for it."

The Prophet said, "A man keeps on asking others for something till he
comes on the Day of Resurrection without any piece of flesh on his
face." The Prophet added, "On the Day of Resurrection, the Sun will
come near (to, the people) to such an extent that the sweat will reach
up to the middle of the ears, so, when all the people are in that
state, they will ask Adam for help, and then Moses, and then Muhammad
(p.b.u.h) ." The sub-narrator added "Muhammad will intercede with
Allah to judge amongst the people. He will proceed on till he will
hold the ring of the door (of Paradise) and then Allah will exalt him
to Maqam Mahmud (the privilege of intercession, etc.). And all the
people of the gathering will send their praises to Allah.

The clerk of Al-Mughira bin Shu'ba narrated, "Muawiya wrote to
Al-Mughira bin Shu'ba: Write to me something which you have heard from
the Prophet (p.b.u.h) ." So Al-Mughira wrote: I heard the Prophet
saying, "Allah has hated for you three things:

Allah's Apostle distributed something (from the resources of Zakat)
amongst a group of people while I was sitting amongst them, but he
left a man whom I considered the best of the lot. So, I went up to
Allah's Apostle and asked him secretly, "Why have you left that
person? By Allah! I consider him a believer." The Prophet said, "Or
merely a Muslim (Who surrender to Allah)." I remained quiet for a
while but could not help repeating my question because of what I knew
about him. I said, "O Allah's Apostle! Why have you left that person?
By Allah! I consider him a believer. " The Prophet said, "Or merely a
Muslim." I remained quiet for a while but could not help repeating my
question because of what I knew about him. I said, "O Allah's Apostle!
Why have you left that person? By Allah! I consider him a believer."
The Prophet said, "Or merely a Muslim." Then Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h)
said, "I give to a person while another is dearer to me, for fear that
he may be thrown in the Hell-fire on his face (by renegating from
Islam)."

Allah's Apostle said, "The poor person is not the one who goes round
the people and ask them for a mouthful or two (of meals) or a date or
two but the poor is that who has not enough (money) to satisfy his
needs and whose condition is not known to others, that others may give
him something in charity, and who does not beg of people."

The Prophet said, "No doubt, it is better for a person to take a rope
and proceed in the morning to the mountains and cut the wood and then
sell it, and eat from this income and give alms from it than to ask
others for something."

We took part in the holy battle of Tabuk in the company of the Prophet
and when we arrived at the Wadi-al-Qura, there was a woman in her
garden. The Prophet asked his companions to estimate the amount of the
fruits in the garden, and Allah's Apostle estimated it at ten Awsuq
(One Wasaq = 60 Sa's) and 1 Sa'= 3 kg. approximately). The Prophet
said to that lady, "Check what your garden will yield." When we
reached Tabuk, the Prophet said, "There will be a strong wind to-night
and so no one should stand and whoever has a camel, should fasten it."
So we fastened our camels. A strong wind blew at night and a man stood
up and he was blown away to a mountain called Taiy, The King of Aila
sent a white mule and a sheet for wearing to the Prophet as a present,
and wrote to the Prophet that his people would stay in their place
(and will pay Jizya taxation.) (1) When the Prophet reached
Wadi-al-Qura he asked that woman how much her garden had yielded. She
said, "Ten Awsuq," and that was what Allah's Apostle had estimated.
Then the Prophet said, "I want to reach Medina quickly, and whoever
among you wants to accompany me, should hurry up." The sub-narrator
Ibn Bakkar said something which meant: When the Prophet (p.b.u.h) saw
Medina he said, "This is Taba." And when he saw the mountain of Uhud,
he said, "This mountain loves us and we love it. Shall I tell you of
the best amongst the Ansar?" They replied in the affirmative. He said,
"The family of Bani-n-Najjar, and then the family of Bani Sa'ida or
Bani Al-Harith bin Al-Khazraj. (The above-mentioned are the best) but
there is goodness in all the families of Ansar."

The Prophet said, "On a land irrigated by rain water or by natural
water channels or if the land is wet due to a near by water channel
Ushr (i.e. one-tenth) is compulsory (as Zakat); and on the land
irrigated by the well, half of an Ushr (i.e. one-twentieth) is
compulsory (as Zakat on the yield of the land)."

Dates used to be brought to Allah's Apostle immediately after being
plucked. Different persons would bring their dates till a big heap
collected (in front of the Prophet). Once Al-Hasan and Al-Husain were
playing with these dates. One of them took a date and put it in his
mouth. Allah's Apostle looked at him and took it out from his mouth
and said, "Don't you know that Muhammad's offspring do not eat what is
given in charity?"

Umar bin Al-Khattab gave a horse in charity in Allah's Cause and later
he saw it being sold in the market and intended to purchase it. Then
he went to the Prophet and asked his permission. The Prophet said, "Do
not take back what you have given in charity." For this reason, Ibn
'Umar never purchased the things which he had given in charity, and in
case he had purchased something (unknowingly) he would give it in
charity again.

Once I gave a horse in Allah's Cause (in charity) but that person did
not take care of it. I intended to buy it, as I thought he would sell
it at a low price. So, I asked the Prophet (p.b.u.h) about it. He
said, "Neither buy, nor take back your alms which you have given, even
if the seller were willing to sell it for one Dirham, for he who takes
back his alms is like the one who swallows his own vomit."

Al-Hasan bin 'Ali took a date from the dates given in charity and put
it in his mouth. The Prophet said, "Expel it from your mouth. Don't
you know that we do not eat a thing which is given in charity?"

The Prophet saw a dead sheep which had been given in charity to a
freed slavegirl of Maimuna, the wife of the Prophet . The Prophet
said, "Why don't you get the benefit of its hide?" They said, "It is
dead." He replied, "Only to eat (its meat) is illegal."

'Aisha intended to buy Barira (a slave-girl) in order to manumit her
and her masters intended to put the condition that her Al-wala would
be for them. 'Aisha mentioned that to the Prophet who said to her,
"Buy her, as the "Wala" is for the manumitted." Once some meat was
presented to the Prophet and 'Aisha said to him, "This (meat) was
given in charity to Barira." He said, "It is an object of charity for
Barira but a gift for us."

The Prophet went to 'Aisha and asked her whether she had something (to
eat). She replied that she had nothing except the mutton (piece) which
Nusaiba (Um 'Atiyya) had sent to us (Buraira) in charity." The Prophet
said, "It has reached its place and now it is not a thing of charity
but a gift for us."

Some meat was presented to the Prophet (p.b.u.h) and it had been given
to Barira (the freed slave-girl of Aisha) in charity. He said, "This
meat is a thing of charity for Barira but it is a gift for us."

(the slave of Ibn Abbas) Allah's Apostle said to Muadh when he sent
him to Yemen, "You will go to the people of the Scripture. So, when
you reach there, invite them to testify that none has the right to be
worshipped but Allah, and that Muhammad is His Apostle. And if they
obey you in that, tell them that Allah has enjoined on them five
prayers in each day and night. And if they obey you in that tell them
that Allah has made it obligatory on them to pay the Zakat which will
be taken from the rich among them and given to the poor among them. If
they obey you in that, then avoid taking the best of their
possessions, and be afraid of the curse of an oppressed person because
there is no screen between his invocation and Allah."

Whenever a person came to the Prophet with his alms, the Prophet would
say, "O Allah! Send your Blessings upon so and so." My father went to
the Prophet with his alms and the Prophet said, "O Allah! Send your
blessings upon the offspring of Abu Aufa."

The Prophet said, "A man from Bani Israel asked someone from Bani
Israel to give him a loan of one thousand Dinars and the later gave it
to him. The debtor went on a voyage (when the time for the payment of
the debt became due) but he did not find a boat, so he took a piece of
wood and bored it and put 1000 diners in it and threw it into the sea.
The creditor went out and took the piece of wood to his family to be
used as fire-wood." (See Hadith No. 488 B, Vol. 3). And the Prophet
narrated the narration (and said), "When he sawed the wood, he found
his money."

Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) appointed a man called Ibn Al-Lutbiya, from
the tribe of Al-Asd to collect Zakat from Bani Sulaim. When he
returned, (after collecting the Zakat) the Prophet checked the account
with him.

Some people from 'Uraina tribe came to Medina and its climate did not
suit them, so Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) allowed them to go to the herd
of camels (given as Zakat) and they drank their milk and urine (as
medicine) but they killed the shepherd and drove away all the camels.
So Allah's Apostle sent (men) in their pursuit to catch them, and they
were brought, and he had their hands and feet cut, and their eyes were
branded with heated pieces of iron and they were left in the Harra (a
stony place at Medina) biting the stones. (See Hadith No. 234, Vol. 1)

took 'Abdullah bin Abu Talha to Allah's Apostle to perform Tahnik for
him. (Tahnik was a custom among the Muslims that whenever a child was
born they used to take it to the Prophet who would chew a piece of
date and put a part of its juice in the child's mouth). I saw the
Prophet and he had an instrument for branding in his hands and was
branding the camels of Zakat.